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"We, as human beings, behave and act not in accordance with the truth as the truth might really be, but we behave and act in accordance with the truth as we think it to be or believe it to be."- Lou Tice

"Today's Wisdom" - For Father's Day 2013

For those of your who know me "closely", or are around me regularly, have surely heard me say this, many times. I believe this and I live this concept. So, how does this tie into my Father, or your Father, or Father's Day? Well, I also believe that this "Truth" that Lou Tice's quote above speaks to, is the truth that we allow ourselves to believe... as it relates to "who we are". It is a primary factor in our self esteem, or really our core belief, as to what the "Truth" is that we believe ourselves to be. It relates to the person that we are in our mind and subconscious, and who we really believe, is "Who We Are".

This is so important in our daily lives because it affects our "self talk". You know we all talk to ourselves constantly, even when we are listening to someone who is talking to us. We are talking to ourselves... about like whether or not we "buy" what they are saying, what we may object to, "how much longer is Phil going to talk!", where we have to be in 30 minutes, etc. Mostly, I believe, we are formulating what we are going to say when they stop talking, lol. We are constantly thinking and talking to ourselves at an amazingly fast pace, and when they stop talking............................... our rate of self talk increases by about 5-6 times in pace.

The "Truth" that I and Lou speak of here is also shaped greatly by who told us "who we are" while we were mostly in our adolescent, teen, and young adult life. Our parents were primary to that belief, that "Truth", that we felt as to who we were and, in large part, who we are today. Of course others helped shape that "Truth"... Our school teachers, our friends, the people we "hung with", the bully's on the playground, college professors, and many other people influenced, in part, who we believe we are... IF WE LET THEM. I put this in caps because it is so important. Because it is only the ones that WE GIVE SANCTION TO, that we allowed or allow today ourselves to believe, that can affect who we really believe we are and what the real "Truth" is that we believe about who we are. You may be able to BS those around you, but you cannot BS yourself. You know "The Truth" deep down inside as to who you really are.

My Father taught me a lot of things. He worked from "Can to Can't" each day... so I learned good work ethic. He taught me that the truth always floats to the top. He taught to kill others with kindness, especially if you don't agree or like them (drives them crazy!). He also taught me how to use a screw driver as a chisel... NOT a good idea! (that led to many a bloody knuckle or smashed finger). He taught me many things, more from what I saw him do, than what he told me. But the most important thing that he, and my Mother, gave/taught me was... Unconditional Positive Regard and Unconditional Positive Love. They accepted me for who and what I was, and who and what I am today, unconditionally. That affected the "Truth" about how I felt about myself, my self talk, my self esteem, more than any other single factor, and it is a huge part of "Who I Am" or at least try to be, today.

So that's my message for today. Your "Take Aways", I hope, are:

-- The quote above that I encourage you to read again, slowly, and thoughtfully.

-- "Self Talk" and why it is so important for us... to understand that it exists, and that we can control it to reshape our belief in "The Truth as we think it to be or believe it to be".

-- That we are only truly affected by what others say about us, if we give it sanction... if we allow them to have this power over us. Who are they? Who are they to judge you and tell you who you are! Only you can allow or disallow them that power.

OK, that's it for "Today's Wisdom"... til next time, keep looking up!

OH, I almost forgot. As of this offering of "Today's Wisdom", I will begin to offer a song to support, "give sanction to", or that somehow relates to my offering for your consideration. Here is a link to today's (Headphones, or a place that will allow cranked up speakers is highly recommended!)

Because you are an agent with my company, or a client of mine, or a friend, colleague, or other person of importance to me, I am forwarding this link to you for The Chandler Report. It has extremely informative data broken down by some of the counties in Middle TN (Davidson, Rutherford, Williamson and Wilson), including home sales data broken down by county on:

-- Overall County Sales Percentage Increases

-- Average Home Sales Price Percentage Increases

-- County Average Home Price YTD and Average Home Sales Price Increases

-- Community with Highest Number of Home Sale and what that Average Sales Price was

-- Community with the Highest Average Sales Prices

-- Percentage Homes Sales Price Increases

-- And lots of other helpful and informative information

I think you will find it of interest and helpful to you, your investors and/or your friends and clients (whether they are relocating into the Greater Nashville Area, or selling/relocating within our area). Click on the link below...

Well, I was hangin' with all my other golf pro buddies at "The Vinny" (Vince Gill's Celeb/Pro Charity Golf Tournament) and this guy comes up and says, "Excuse me Mr. Dildine. I'm sorry to bother you, but I would really appreciate having a picture taken with you. Would that be OK?" I said, "Well OK, I''m sorta' busy here Deacon, but I'll take a minute for you." If you all don't know this guy, then you're just not "tuned in" to "Nashville".

For those of you who are maybe not "tuned in" to the ABC Series "Nashville" (which just got picked up for its 2nd season next year). This guy's name is actor Charles "Chip" Esten and he plays "Deacon", one of the primary roles and characters in TV Series "Nashville" (which is, by the way, the first major network TV series to be named by only the name of a city since "Dallas"). For the women who do watch the series and know who he is... take a breath, stop dreaming you were me in the photo, stop drooling and check out the rest of the collection of photos, especially if you are a golf fan. You may also notice Brandt Snedeker, Craig Stadler, "The Walrus", Dan Tyminski (plays with Allison Krause and sang "Man of Constant Sorrow" from movie "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou", Comedians Gary Mule Deer and Henry Cho, Nashville's Channel 2 WKRN News Celeb (our Celeb for the first round Sunday) Bob Mueller, and many others including Mike Fisher. Mike was in our group the 2nd Round as our Celeb. Mike Fisher, of course is a star player of the Nashville Predators Pro Hockey Team, and is also married to Carrie Underwood. I've been told by Jackie and some lady friends that both Mike and Deacon are "easy on the eyes".

Here's the whole collection of photos of Jackie and me experiencing "The Vinny" (OK, it was really hot and humid and "Wisconsin Girl Jackie" only went the first day, Sunday... plus she had to work on 2nd day, Monday, so we'll give here a pass that doesn't relate to the heat and humidity). The "LoudMouthGolf.com" clothed couple are Joshua Ray, my personally sponsored "Wounded Warrior", and his fiancee, Alexis. Her parents were down to volunteer working and come each year to work "The Vinny". They fell in love with Nashville (which everyone who comes here does), and they are both moving to Nashville from Madison, WI too. Josh and Alexis have been living in Nashville since January.

My company is already aligned with "The Wounded Warrior Project", but Joshua's story as a "Wounded Warrior" and his sacrifices for our country, motivated me to write an epic-length song/poem. Wrote it on Memorial Day in about an hour. May pare it down to a song soon, but it, in full length, is here... http://bitly.com/HeKnewWhat If you would like to read it. It will download as a Word Document to your computer and you can read, print it, or save it and read it later.

--

Much Obliged, Phil

Make it an exceptional day... It is yours to think, see, believe and make happen!

May 03, 2013

The country music capital led the nation in job growth last year, according to revised data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and reported by The City Paper. Between 2011 and 2012, the Nashville metro area experienced job growth of 3.9 percent, more than any other metro area with a population of more than 1 million.

Costs for building materials are going up and that, combined with the rising cost of building lots, means higher prices for new homes. / Getty Images / Brand X

Written by

Bill Lewis

For The Tennessean

It may seem contradictory, but as new home prices continue to go up across Middle Tennessee, builders have this advice for customers — there may never be a better time to buy than today.

The reason: Prices will only be higher tomorrow.

“If you’ve been waiting for a deal, you’ve missed your chance,” said Chad Ramsey, director of sales and marketing for the Pulte Group. “That doesn’t mean you’re not going to get a great new home at a good price, but not below cost.”

Home prices were stable for several years or even fell during the recession. They have been going up this year as builders pass along the rising cost of building lots and materials such as lumber and drywall. In addition, there aren’t enough homes on the market to satisfy demand, at least in the most desirable neighborhoods. The result is the perfect recipe for prices that seem to go up day to day.

Regent Homes President David McGowan said he recently offered some advice to a customer who was hesitating on the purchase of a $400,000 home.

“If you want to pay $10,000 more for the house you’re looking at, wait two months,” McGowan said.

Beth and Ryan LaBelle, who recently bought a house built by Celebration Homes in Mt. Juliet, are glad they didn’t delay.

“If we built the same house today, we would have probably added

10 percent,” Beth said.

The LaBelles discovered a silver lining in the dark cloud of rising prices. When they had their home appraised, its value had increased $6,000 over the purchase price, giving them instant equity.

Despite rising prices, Beth believes home ownership is a smart decision. Their mortgage payment isn’t much more than rent for the apartment where they briefly lived after moving to Mt. Juliet from Indiana.

“Prices are great, as are interest rates. And you can buy a really nice home for what you pay in rent,” Beth said.

The price of drywall and lumber has gone up as much as 25 percent this year, said McGowan. Concrete has gone up

6 percent. The price of those materials could come down as supplies increase. But building lots are scarce, and no one is making more land. That means higher prices.

A building lot in Murfreesboro that cost $45,000 two years ago costs $65,000 today. In Nolensville, lots that were $65,000 cost $80,000 now, he said.

Sometimes even finding a spot to build a house can be a challenge.

“Builders are fighting for lots,” McGowan said. “A few years ago we had lots left over from the recession. Not now. You go down to Franklin, you can’t even buy a lot.”

Citizens Homes President David Hughes predicted that consumers will experience “sticker shock” as scarcity drives up the price of lots.

“Lots that are in locations where people want to live will probably become a bidding war in the near future,” Hughes said.

Goodall Homes, which builds houses in Williamson, Wilson, Sumner and Davidson counties, has raised prices by 10 percent in some communities.

“You combine all that, that’s why prices are going up so significantly in the Nashville area,” Vice President Chris O’Neal said.

Rising prices are not discouraging buyers. For example, the Pulte Group expects to have well over 300 closings in the region this year.

“We sold out of some areas a little quicker than anticipated. That’s a good problem to have,” Ramsey said.

Goodall expects to build more than 300 homes this year, a record. Regent recently began work on 185 new condominiums at Lenox Village, its “smart growth” community on Nolensville Pike south of Old Hickory Boulevard. Citizens Homes is building in Antioch, Hermitage, Nolensville and Wilson County.

Prices are rising, but they are still recovering from the effects of the recession, Ramsey said.

“It may look like a price increase but they’re just getting back to where they were,” he said.

Hughes, the president of Citizens Homes, believes people who buy a home will profit from that decision. People who wait will have regrets.

“The people who have purchased a home in the last year and probably for the remainder of this year will probably see their investment grow dramatically,” Hughes said. “If interest rates start to jump up, then those fence sitters will be saying, ‘Man I sure missed an opportunity.’ ”

Contact Bill Lewis at 615-262-5862 or
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.

Middle Tennessee home sales continued their torrid growth pace in May, according to figures just released by the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors.

Realtors closed 3,061 sales of existing homes during the month, 22.4 percent higher than the 2,500 closings in May 2012. It’s the 23rd consecutive month that sales exceeded year-ago figures by at least 15 percent, with year-to-date sales up 24 percent from last year.

May also was the first time that closings topped 3,000 in a single month in nearly six years. The last time it happened: August 2007, just before the housing slump took root.

“That’s a major milestone for our region,” said Price Lechleiter, the group’s president, in a statement.

But he again struck a cautionary chord, saying “while the signs are encouraging, they are far from solid.” He cited uncertainty about the availability of federal financing, the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the potential changes to the mortgage interest deduction.

Another, more-pressing concern: Tight inventory. The number of homes for sales barely moved from April to May, and remained 14 percent below year-ago levels.

As a result, homes are selling faster and for more.

The median single-family sales price jumped $10,000 to $195,000 from April to May and by 9 percent in the past year, and homes sold in May were on the market an average of 73 days — more than a week shorter than earlier this year. A year ago, the median price was $179,000.

Condominium prices have risen even faster: From $160,000 per unit in May 2012 to $179,000 last month, a 12-percent jump.

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